Lawmaker: we haven’t learnt from June 12

Nigeria has not learnt any lesson from the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, Lagos State House of Assembly Deputy Whip Rotimi Abiru said at the weekend.

The election, which was acclaimed to be free and fair, was won by the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola. It was annulled by former Head of State Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

Speaking with reporters at the Assembly complex, Abiru said: “June 12, 1993, is still held in high esteem because we know we held an election that was acclaimed to be free and fair, which was annulled. Unfortunately, from what we have witnessed in our electoral process in the last 15 years, it does not appear as if we have learnt much. Elections are characterised by electoral malpractices and logistic problems.”

He said by now, one would expect elections to reflect the people’s wishes. Abiru said June 12 should be recognised as democracy day, adding: “I want the Federal Government to admit that the annulled election is the best ever held in Nigeria and recognise that date as democracy day in commemoration of that event.

“Although Babangida has accepted responsibility for the annulment of the election, as an elder statesman, it is important for him to come to the open and apologise to Nigerians because we have not recovered from the effect of that annulment.”

To elected leaders, Abiru said: “It is important for us to see public office as a call to serve. Once that is appreciated, we should be able to play by the rules of the game, to the extent that we accept defeat and whoever wins elections should be magnanimous in victory.”